Appendix I
Infirmary Care Supplement (ICS) 2018-19
Guidance Notes on Managing Allocations
for Subvented Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs)
1. This set of guidance notes explains the administrative arrangements in managing the
ICS allocations for subvented RCHEs operated by NGOs.
2. ICS is an additional resource for frail elderly persons receiving subsidised services
in subvented RCHEs and private RCHEs participating in the Enhanced Bought
Place Scheme (EBPS) with a view to enhancing care at the infirmary level. Based
on the resources available, allocation is made annually to individual subvented
RCHE according to the number of residents eligible for ICS.
3. For the allocation of ICS in 2018-19, a resident is considered eligible for ICS if
he/she has been confirmed by the Community Geriatric Assessment Teams (CGATs)
of the Hospital Authority to be in need of infirmary care before 1 November 2017
whether he/she is still registered with the Central Infirmary Waiting List awaiting
placement or has subsequently withdrawn from the list.
4. Any resident who has been registered for the purpose of granting ICS will not be
eligible for waitlisting for infirmary unit in a subvented RCHE during the period
covered by ICS. Besides, the following elderly persons are
not eligible for ICS in
2018-19:
those who are registered for or are benefiting from Dementia Supplement;
those who are residing in infirmary units of subvented RCHEs; and
those who are residing in contract RCHEs.
5.
Record of residents registered for the purpose of receiving ICS should be kept by
individual RCHEs for audit purpose.
6. ICS is to be used as an allowance for existing staff or for the employment of
qualified staff on a part-time or temporary basis in accordance with the Guide to
Social Welfare Subventions. The staff should be directly involved in providing
care to the frail residents including
workman, care worker, nurse (registered
nurse/enrolled nurse), health worker, occupational therapist or physiotherapist.
For professional services by physiotherapist and occupational therapist, service
operators may hire services from qualified professional organisations.
NGOs that
wish to use the supplement to employ other types of staff should seek prior
approval from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) with full justifications.
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7.
For the purpose of service monitoring, RCHEs are required to report the actual
staffing position provided as a result of the additional resources allocated through
ICS. RCHEs should complete the reporting forms, i.e. “Resources Allocated
through Infirmary Care Supplement (ICS) - Half-Year Report for 2018-19” at
Appendix II. The first half-year report, reflecting the staffing position provided
for the period of 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018 should be completed and
returned to the Elderly Branch of SWD on or before
30 November 2018. The
second half-year report, reflecting the staffing position provided for the period of 1
October 2018 to 31 March 2019 should be completed and returned to the Elderly
Branch on or before
31 May 2019. The reporting forms and supporting
documents on ICS will be examined by our Subventions Branch and Elderly
Branch during the Department’s review/surprise and sampled inspection visits to
RCHEs
8. The employment of new additional staff and the administration of allowance for
existing staff are at the discretion of the NGO concerned.
9.
Proper records on payment of allowance for existing staff and employment of
part-time/temporary staff should be kept by the RCHEs concerned for audit
purpose. No virement of funds is allowed for the supplement and any surplus will
be clawed back. Surplus will be calculated on an annual basis. NGOs may juggle
the expenditure within the same financial year. In case of under-spending, the
surplus should be deposited in an interest bearing account and will be recovered
upon submission of the annual audited accounts.
10. For
NGOs receiving Lump Sum Grant, this provision is regarded as a Central
Item. The financial reporting format should follow the guidelines as set out in the
Lump Sum Grant Manual. For
NGOs not receiving Lump Sum Grant, the
income and expenditure of supplement should appear as special Other Charges with
a designated purpose under the category of “Item for Specific Purpose” in Statement
2 of the Accompanying Financial Statement.
11. NGOs are required to manage carefully the expenditure on allowance/employment
of staff so as to avoid over-spending.
Any expenditure exceeding the actual
entitlement will not be recognised.
12. For any enquiries relating to the allocation of ICS, please contact the Elderly Branch
on telephone number 2892 5214.
Elderly Branch
Social Welfare Department
February 2018
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